Watch band attachment



y 1951 E. WALLIN WATCH BAND ATTACHMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1946 INVENTOR.

I EDWARD WALL/N ATTORNEYS y 1951 E. WALLIN WATCH BAND ATTACHMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1946 Oil IN VEN TOR. EDWARD WALL/N A T TOR/V5 rs July 3, 19 1 E. WALLIN WATCH BAND ATTACHMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1946 INVENTOR. EDWARD WALL/N ATTORNEYS Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention relates to watch bands and more particularly to means for securing the straps or bands to wrist watches in such a manner that the straps or bands may readily be removed and replaced while, at the same time, the strap or band is securely engaged with the wrist watch during use. It is intended also to improve the appearance of the watch by eliminating the four lugs which support the spring pins on which the band is held on many present watch cases.

In the usual wrist watch construction, the watch case is provided with a pair of extending lugs on each side having aligned openings to receive the ends of a spring pin, the loop of a watch band passing around the spring pin. A separate spring pin is required on each side and the pin itself, although it is necessarily very small, is a rather complex structure consisting of a sleeve with an internal spring driving out a narrow wire or rod at each end into engagement with the openings in the lugs. In order to remove and replace the wrist watch straps or bands, it is necessary to drive a pin through the opening of the lug to depress or push in the wire or rod of the spring pin. This is usually a delicate task for all but watchmakers.

In women's wrist watches, which are much smaller, the watch case is usually provided with an integral loop at each side and the watch band consists either of a cord drawn through the loop, the ends of the cord being secured together by a fastening means which is clinched on, or the watch band is provided with a flexible malleable end piece which is passed either through the loop or through a ring held in the loop and then bent over. Both of these forms of strap or band attachment for the watch are also difficult to remove and replace.

My invention contemplates a simplified attachment for the band or strap of a watch wherein the attaching means consists of a steel spring or other wire, suitably plated, engaging the surface of the watch case which is readily removable so that the loop of the strap or band may be passed thereover, then replacing this wire on the watch case which will cause the strap or band to be fastened securely against the case.

Thus a primary object of my invention is the provision of novel securing means for the strap or band of a watch to the watch case.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a wire-like member mounted on the watch case for holding the loop of the strap or band.

Still another object of my invention is the arrangement of a watch case so that it has an annular groove in the case within which groove a wire may be positioned and locked, the said wire being passed through the loop of the strap or band of the watch.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure l is a view of one form of my novel loop for securing the straps or bands of a wrist watch to the watch casing.

Figure 2 is an end view of a watch casing adapted to cooperate with the elements of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view of a modified form of wire loop.

Figure 4A is a detail of the means for interengaging the ends of the wire loop of Figure 4.

Figure 4B is a detail of a modified form of the means for interengaging the ends of the wire loop of Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a watch casing adapted to cooperate with the wrist watch supporting elements of Figures 4 and 4A.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a wrist watch with a modified form of wire loop.

Figure 6A is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6a6a of Figure 6.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional View showing the manner of securement of the wire loop of Figure 6 to the watch.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing another modified form of wire loop supporting element for the wrist watch strap.

Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views respectively showing an arrangement of the annular groove of the watch case and a cooperating arrangement of the wire loop to achieve a decorative effect.

Figure 11 is a view showing another modified form of my novel wrist watch supporting member.

Figure 12 is a view in perspective showing the application of my novel wrist watch supporting units to a rectangular shaped watch.

Figure 13 is a view showing a modification of the wire loop of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a plan view showing the adaptation of my invention to a jeweled Wrist watch wherein the jeweled element may readily be removed and replaced. 7

Figure 15 is a view showing the wire loop which cooperates with the watch of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l6--I6 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a view in perspective showing a modified form of wire support for the wrist watch band or strap, the same being a modification of the construction of Figure 8.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on line Iii-l8 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a modified form of the left hand portion of Figure 17.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, my novel watch casing 36 is provided with a circumferential and/or annular groove 3! in the perimeter thereof. As may be readily seen in Figures 2 and 3, the groove 3i extends substantially around the entire watch casing terminating at 32, 33 adjacent the opening 34 in the watch casing which receives the winding stem of the Watch. The groove 3! is provided adjacent its ends 3|, 32 with lock-in openings 35, 3E drilled into the watch casing 353 from the base of the groove.

'The said openings 35, 35 may be made in any shape to conform to the shape of the spring, the ends ofwhich they are intended to hold. It is preferred, however, that these ends be round regardless of the shape of the spring. The openings 35, 35 should be inclined several degrees to form divergent acute angles at the r;

section tangent the bent ends to hold the ends of the springs.

A wire loop 37 is provided over which the loops 38, 39 of the Watch band or strap elements 16,- maybe passed. The wire loop 3i is so arranged that it may readily be snapped into the grooves 3! of the watch casing. The ends of the wire loop 37 are provided With ire-entrant bends 42, 43 registering respectively with the openings 35, 36 of the watch casing which communicate with the groove 3|.

When the wire loop 3? is snapped into the groove 3|, the re-entrant bends 82, 43 thereof are snapped into the openings 35, 35 and held frictionally therein.

The angle of the re-entrant bends 62, 133 and of the openings 35, 36 are so arranged that a lateral pull in opposite directions on the straps 4B and 4| will not result in pulling the bent portions '42, 43 of the loop 3i out of the openings 35, 36 but rather will tend to lock them more firmly in place.

The watch casing 36 is provided with the vertical groove 45 adjacent the end 32 of the groove 3| and the opening 33 thereof. This groove 45 makes it possible to insert a pin beneath the wire loop 31 adjacent the bent back portion 43 to snap this portion :13 thereof out of the opening 36 so that the wire loop 3? may readily be removed.

The groove BI is also provided with diametri cally opposite recesses 47, it; in the watch casing 39 to provide room for the loops 38, 353 of the band or strap elements til, 4!. These should follow the contour of the watch as this will allow the strap to fit closely to the watch case althoughthe recesses may also be straight as shown in Figure 3. This will also prevent the retaining wire loop from being forced away from the case. The sides of the recesses 41, 43 may also be sloped as shown to accommodate different widths of watch bands or straps.

In operation, the'loops BS, 39 of the strap or band elements 41!, ii are slipped over the wire loop 3? to the position shown in Figure l. The wire loop 3'! is snapped into the groove 3| with 39 ,thereof.

re-entrant portion M thereof in opening 35, the loops 38, 39 are positioned so as to register with the recesses 47-, 8 and the re-entrant portion 43 of the wire loop 3"! is snapped into the opening The wire 31 is thus firmly held within the groove 3| and the straps 43, All are securely attached to the watch. The loop 31 may be removed as above described and the straps 43, 4| readily replaced thereon and then the wire loop 3'! may again be reattached to the watch.

No special tools are required other than a pin to snap the re-entrant portion 43 of loop 3? out of opening 3%. No delicate spring pins or malleable bendable members are required and the change may be made by the unskilled user.

While the loop 3'! has thus far been shown and described as a wire loop, it may have any suitable cross-sectional arrangement provided it is sufhciently flexible and resilient to be snapped into the groove 3! as above described. Thus the groove 3! may have a rectangular crosssection and the wire 3.1 may have a similar crosssection; or the groove and wire may have matching over, circular or other cross-sections, with the Wire either flush with the side of the case or protruding therefrom; or, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the groove 31a shown in Figure 9 may be triangular in crosssection and the wire loop Bla may also be triangular in cross-section and have appropriate horizontal peripheral curves; the ends of the loop 3711 may then be tapered down Where required to cooperate with recesses 41, E8 and with openings 35,36.

Thus my wrist watch band or strap attachment means, in addition to being secure and extremely'simple to operate, may be as ornamental in appearance and construction as the construction and use of the Watch may require.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modifica tion of the construction of Figures 1 to '3 in which the wire loop 5? is provided, as shown in Figure 4A, with interlocking ends 62 and 63. The straps or bands 48 and 4| are arranged so that the wire 51 passes through the loops 38 and The ends 82 and 63 are manually interlocked, thus providing a substantially continuous ring holding the strap or band elements and 4!.

The watch case is so arranged that either its back or front cover 6| will be screwed into the remainder of the case, the said cover 61 having a flange 64 which in cooperation with the flat portion 65 of the watch case forms the groove 66. The threads of the cover member 6| may be appropriately cut into or recessed at diametrically opposite points to provide clearance for the loops 38 and 39 without interfering with the rotation of cover 6| into the case 63.

The interlocked wire loop 57 of Figure '5 is laid on the flange 64 just prior to the insertion of cover member 6| into the case 66 and is held in the groove 66 thus formed, the cover member El being tightened so that flange 64 and wall 65 press down on the wire loop 51. The interlocked ends 62 and 63 are so arranged that they cannot be pulled apart by a pull in the plane of the wire loop 5! although they may readily be separated by moving one of the ends with respect to the other in a plane normal to that of the wire loop 51.

The placement of the wire loop 51 in the groove 66 when the cover member BI is secured to the watch cover thus prevents the ends 52 and 63 from being pulled apart.

A small recess may be placed in the .outer.

threaded wall of the cover SI and a corresponding recess in the inner threaded wall of the case 60 a flat leaf spring may be secured at one end in one of the recesses, the leaf spring having a hump extending beyond its recess; the hump of the leaf spring will snap into the recess of the other member when the cover is screwed down to closed position and will thus provide a resilient lock for the cover.

In order to replace the watch band or strap 40 and 4|, it is only necessary to remove the cover member 6| from the case 6! separate the ends 62 and 53 of the wire loop 51 and replace the watch band or strap; then the ends 62 and 63 of the wire loop 5] are interlocked once more and mounted in the watch case of Figure 5 as above described. The bottom section 6| may also be made to snap into place and hold the wire loop 51 against wall 55.

In Figure 4B I have shown a slightly modified form for interlocking the ends of the wire loop 5?. One end is notched and provided with pin 62a; the other end is notched and provided with opening 63a to receive pin 52a. The elements may then lock together to make the loop apparently flush and continuous at the joint.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown another modified form which may eliminate the milled groove around the case or which may cooperate with a shallow milled groove wherein the wire loop 61 is mounted on the watch case ID by means of re-entrant elements I2 and I3 on the wire loop, which hook into recessed openings I4 and I5 on that portion IS of the watch case II! which carried the stem '11 of the watch. In this case the wire loop 61 has substantially the construction of the wire loop shown in Figure 1 but the re-entrant ends I2 and I3 are rotatably held in the recessed openings I4 and I5.

The principal opening of openings I4 and I5 are suificiently wide to admit the re-entrant ends I2 and I3 of the loop 61. The inner portion of each of the openings 14 and I5 is provided with a recess 80, 8| into which the re-entrant portions I2 and I3 of the wire loop 6'! swing when the wire loop is moved from the dotted line position of Figure 6 to the solid line position of Figures 6 and '7. That is, with the wire loop 61 in the dotted line position of Figure 6, the

re-entrant portions 72, I3 of the wire loop 61 do not engage the recesses 86, SI and the free ends of the wire loop 6! may be withdrawn from openings I4, '15 so that the watch band or strap elements 40, 4| may be replaced.

When the watch band elements 46, 4| have been replaced on loop 61, the ends I2, I3 are inserted in openings I4, I5 in the dotted line position of Figure 6 and the loop 6'! is then rotated down to the solid line position of Figures 6 and '7.

On this rotation, the re-entrant ends "I2, I3 of wire loop 6'! turn into the recesses 8|], 8| thus locking the ends of the loop 67 in openings I4, I5 and preventing removal therefrom.

The wire loop 61 may be arranged to snap down around the outside of the watch as shown in Figure 6 or to snap into a recess in the face or back of the watch. Any suitable simple securing means may be used to hold the wire loop 61 down. Thus, as shown in Figures 6 and 6A, a simple spring lock I9 secured to the watch case ID at the side opposite the stem 'I'I will serve to retain the wire loop 6?. It will also be obvious that if the opening of the spring lock is toward the back of the case, the loop cannot swing out while the watch is .being worn.

It will be obvious that any appropriate conformation or dimensioning of the recess into which the loop 67 snaps may also be sufiicient to retain the wire loop 6'! in position. This recess may also be provided with additional recesses to provide clearance for the loops 38, 39 of the watch band or strap elements 43, 4|.

For this purpose, the recess above referred to need not merely be peripheral but may be a circular recess cut or otherwise formed in the back of the casing with appropriate slots or appropriate milled areas communicating from the recess to the edge of the casing.

In Figure 8 I have shown another modified form in which the wire loop elements 81, 81 are hingedly connected at 88, 88 on opposite sides of the stem 85 to the watch casing. Or a single hinge for both wires 81, 8'! may be provided opposite the crown of the watch with the recesses 92 adjacent the crown of the watch.

A groove 9|, 9| is formed on each side of the watch casing terminating at 92, 92 in the openings 83, 93. Each of the wire members 87 is arranged so that it will lie in the groove 9| and so that when placed in the groove 9| the re-entrant ends 93, will enter the openings 93, 93.

The hinge securement 88 need merely be a small screw, rivet or stud passing through registering openings in the watch case on either side of the groove 9| and through an appropriate opening in the wire member 81.

In the case of Figure 8, the wire members 81 are made a permanent part of the watch case and cannot be lost. Appropriate vertical grooves 96, 93 may be provided to permit the user to snap the wire member 87 out of openings 93 and grooves 9|.

When the wire members 81 have been snapped out of the grooves 9|, the strap elements 40, 4| may be replaced by sliding the loops 38, 39 on the wires 87. The wires 31 are then snapped back into the grooves 9| withthe re-entrant elements 55 entering the openings 92 and the band or strap loops 38, 39 registering with the recesses 41, 48.

In Figure 11 I have shown another slightly modified form of the construction of Figure 8 wherein instead of having the two wire elements 8! of Figure 8, a single wire member I3'I is used in conjunction with groove I3I. Groove I3| in the watch case I39 has exactly the construction shown in connection with groove 3| of Figure 3 including the recesses 4! and 48 for the watch band or strap loops and the vertical snap out groove 45.

While loop I31 is provided with the re-entrant end I42 which snaps into the opening I35, the opposite end of wire loop I31 is hinged at hinge pin I32 which passes through appropriate registering openings on opposite sides of the groove I 3| and an opening in the end of wire loop I3'I.

The construction of Figure 11 thus combines all of the advantages of the single wire loop of Figures 1, 2 and 3 with the hinged arrangement of the wire members of Figure 8. The operation of wire loop I37 will be obvious from the previous descriptions.

In Figure 12 I have shown in perspective a watch case I00 of rectangular form having a peripheral wire IBI with re-entrant ends I02 engaging in opening I03. The wire IOI holds the loops 38, 39 of straps 49 and 4|. The ends of the watch case I95 are provided with recesses I05 in which the loops 38, 39 may register. The wire with the surface of the case.

Here again as in all of the constructions hereinbefore described, the wire loop and the groove with which it cooperates may have any appropriate horizontal cross-section to enhance the appearance of the watch.

In Figure 13 I have shown a wire loop I I1 which is a slightly modified form of the wire loop 31 of Figure l. The wire loop here is provided with the re-entrant members 42, 43 of the Figure 1 construction but is also provided with diametrically opposite registering elements III and H2 which may, as shown, simply be bends in the wire or which may be lugs or other elements affixed thereto.

The loops 38, 39 of the strap or band elements 40, 4I may then be provided with appropriate central openings engaged by the registering elements I II and I I2 which will thereby always center the loops 38 and 39 of the band or strap elements 40, 4| and maintain them in the desired registering relation; such registering elements III and H2 may, as will be obvious, be used in connection with each of the constructions herein described. This permits the use of bands narrower than the full width of recesses 41 and 48 and causes them to always be centered and held firmly.

In Figures 14, and 16, I have shown the manner in which my novel wrist band attachment may be used in connection with jeweled watches to replace or rearrange the jewels thereon. In ladies jeweled watches, wherein precious stones are used to enhance the appearance of the watch, these stones are usually set at the wrist band attachment. By means of my invention these jeweled members may readily be secured to and removed from the watch and be replaced for daytime or less formal wear by a plain band. Thus in Figure 14 I have shown an oval ladies watch case I40 provided with a wire loop I41 which corresponds with the wire loop 31 of Figure 1 except that it is oval to follow the shape of the watch case.

The watch case I40 and the wire loop I41 have the groove and loop construction described in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the wire loop is placed into the groove-and removed therefrom in the manner already described in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

.As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the ornamental elements I50, I5I of the watch are provided with loops I53 which will slide on the wire loop I40. These jeweled elements I50 are also provided with additional means to secure them to the watch band 40; as shown, these means of securement may be an'additional opening or 100p I55 in the jeweled member I50 through which the watch band 40 passes.

The loop members I 56 of the jeweled members I50, I5I are dimensioned so as to register properly with the recesses 48 and 41 in the groove 3 I.

When the user of the watch desires to wear the watch as a plain wrist watch, then she merely removes the wire loop I41 in the manner previously described in connection with Figures 1, 2 and '3, removes the jeweled elements I50 and I5I and places a plain band similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4 on the loop I41. The user then replaces the loop I41 as already described to complete the attachment of the new band.

By this means, therefore, the user of the watch is provided with a simplified device which facilitates the attachment and removal of ornamental and precious elements to the wrist watch.

The loop I41, or any of the other removable loops above described, may themselves in addition to having an ornamental cross-section be provided with appropriate gems or other decor-ations to enhance the value and appearance of the Watch. To avoid weakening the loop by making the holes or depressions necessary to hold the gems, the loop may be widened or thickened at the gem mountings.

The watch may then be constructed so that the case is a plain gold or platinum whichmay be used in connection with'a plain wrist band or strap; but when it is desired to turn the watch into a formal jeweled watch, a gem studded loop and/or gem studded elements I50, I51 may be readily mounted thereon.

This means for varying the appearance of the watch from time to time may of course be used with any of the constructions herein described.

In Figure 17 I have shown a slightly modified form of the construction of Figure 8 wherein the wrist band attaching member comprises a wire or band I51 hinged at I58 so that it may rotate into and out of the recess I6I in a plan which is generally normal to the plane of the watch. The opposite end of the recess I6I is provided with a slot I62 up into which the end I63 of the wire or band I51 may be pushed. The slot I62 as shown in Figure 18 is provided with a latch member I65 which is part of leaf spring I66 which biases the latch I65 to block the slot I62. The latch member I65 is so arranged that extension I63 of the wire or band I51 may push past its surface to be captured abov its top surface and thus be securely retained against removal.

A watch band p mounted over the wire or band I51 will thus be securely held in the recess ISI against actual removal.

The latch member I65 may be pushed in to permit the removal of wire or bandend I63 by a pin which enters the hole I10 topush the latch I65 back.

The pin in hole I10 pushes the latch I65 back sufliciently so that the end I63 may move in front of the latch I65 and against the pin. The pin is then withdrawn while downward pressure is maintained on the wire or band I51 and the end I63 may then slide out of the notch I62. The wire or band I51 may thus be readily closed and opened to change the wrist band or strap or to attach jeweled elements thereof.

It will be obvious that in addition to arranging the wire or band I51 so that it is hinged to rotate in a direction normal to the plane of the watch, it may also be hinged to rotate in a direction parallel to the watch. In this case the slot I62 will also extend parallel to the plane of the watch to receive the end I62 of the wire or band I51 but otherwise the construction will be the same.

In Figure 19 I have shown in fragmentary form a modification of the left side of the recess .I6I wherein, instead of hinging the band I51 on a hinge pin I58, a simple opening I60 is provided for the left end of wire or band I51, so the wire or band I51 may actually consist of a simple removable rod. The left side of the wire or band I51 is pushed into the opening I80. The watch band or strap loop is passed thereover and the other end I63 of the wire or band I51 issnapped into either a horizontal or vertical slot I62 as previously described.

It will thus be seen that in the various constructions above described, I have set forth a simplified means for removably attaching a strap or band to a wrist watch, the attachment being so arranged that it is extremely simple to use, does not require any delicate elements and is therefore easy to manufacture, lends itself to appropriate ornamentation and obviates the necessity for complex extensions, lugs or other elements on the watch case itself.

The watch case may be attached to an ornamental pin by a single band or strap engaging one side of the wire loop in any of the constructions above described; or it may be attached to a watch fob in the same manner; or the loop may carry a ring or be bent to form a ring which may be attached to a chain, pin, strap, band or fob.

Also, a strap may be attached at its center to one side of the loop to provide a watch of novel design; the strap may have a central recess or curve to follow the watch case with a fold or hem to receive the loop.

In each of the constructions herein described, a simple wire loop or band having an appropriate cross-section either from a mechanical or decorative point of view is utilized to removably secure the wrist band or strap to the watch.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with preferred illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modifications of my invention will now become obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Securing means for attaching a watch band to a watch case; said means comprising a groove in the periphery of the watch case; said groove extending over more than 180; a spring loop member having re-entrant end pieces; recesses at the ends of said groove for receiving the reentrant end pieces of said spring loop member; a loop on said watch band; said watch band loop being mounted over said spring loop.

2. Securing means for attaching a watch band to a watch case; said means comprising a groove in the periphery of the watch case; said groove extending over more than 180; a spring loop member having re-entrant end pieces; recesses at the ends of said groove for receiving the reentrant end pieces of said spring 100p member; said recesses and said re-entrant end pieces being inclined at divergent acute angles to their respective points of tangency to the loop; a loop on said watch band; said watch band loop being mounted over said spring loop.

3. Securing means for attaching a watch band to a watch case; said means comprising a groove in the periphery of the watch case; said groove extending over more than 180; a spring loop member having re-entrant end pieces; recesses at the ends of said groove for receiving the reentrant end pieces of said spring loop member; said recesses and said re-entrant end pieces being inclined at divergent acute angles to their respective points of tangency to the loop; a loop on said Watch band; said Watch band loop being mounted over said spring loop, and an additional recess in said watch case communicating with said groove adjacent to one of said first mentioned recesses and substantially normal thereto to facilitate removal of the spring loop member.

4. Securing means for attaching a watch band to a watch case; said means comprising a groove in the periphery of the watch case; a spring loop member mounted in said groove; a loop on said watch band; said watch band loop being mounted over said spring loop; a recess in said groove substantially equal in dimension to the dimension of the Watch band loop to receive and position the watch band loop.

5. Securing means for attaching a watch band to a watch case; said means comprising a groove in the periphery of the watch case; a loop member releasably secured in said groove; a loop on said watch band; said watch band loop being mounted over said loop member; a recess in said groove substantially equal in dimension to the dimension of the watch band loop to receive and position the watch band loop.

EDWARD WALLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 410,370 Moeckel Sept. 3, 1889 1,204,902 Poltock Nov. 14, 1916 1,257,159 Wachter Feb. 19, 1918 1,614,864 Beskow Jan. 18, 1927 1,702,895 Dinhofer Feb. 19, 1929 1,790,706 Hill Feb. 3, 1931 1,927,838 Kislinger Sept. 26, 1933 2,123,688 Whitehead July 12, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 121,145 Switzerland June 16, 1927 163,059 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1933 197,915 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1938 207,750 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1940 691,623 France July 15, 1930 

